There will be no horse whisperers in Denver for the Indianapolis Colts when they play the Broncos next Sunday night.

Like Pilgrim, the Colts are in for a world of hurt. They're about to get stampeded.

In their two opening games at home with Peyton Manning at quarterback, the Broncos have scored 80 points. In Manning's last 10 home openers, eight with those Colts, Manning's offense averaged 31.7 points and won nine.

And that's just to start with.

Robert Mathis is suspended, and Jim Irsay is not feeling so good himself.

The Colts confront what is considered the easiest schedule in the NFL, and they surely will win the AFC South.

But not here, not now.

And if the Broncos have their way this season, the horses of different colors meet again Sunday, Jan. 18, in Denver for the AFC championship. Nice symmetry.

The Broncos, who set their 53-man roster momentarily Saturday, are favored by a touchdown over the Colts, which is ludicrous.

The Colts have no chance of staying within seven points, or 17. Guaranteed.

Last year, in the Thursday night grand opening, the Broncos ruptured the Baltimore Ravens, the defending Super Bowl champions, 49-27 as Manning threw a record-tying seven touchdown passes. And the Broncos got a small measure of revenge for the loss to the Ravens in the previous playoff game.

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Guess who's coming to Denver? The Colts won last Oct. 20 in Indianapolis to halt the Broncos' winning streak at six and ruin Manning's return. The Broncos would have prevailed had Ronnie Hillman not fumbled at the Colts' 2-yard line in the fourth quarter.

Lest you forget, in the second quarter, Mathis sacked Manning in the end zone, causing a fumble, a safety and an ankle injury to Peyton.

Mathis, the Colts' best pass rusher, won't participate this time because he took a "fertility" — wink, wink — drug. Leading up to that game, owner Irsay insulted Manning and his "Star Wars offense." Irsay will not be bad-mouthing Manning this week. He is on a short leash because of his own drug issue.

It's payback, Indy.

Manning could throw nine touchdown passes this time.

The Broncos have significantly improved their defense, and the most proficient offense since the legalization of the forward pass in 1905 is, get this, significantly improved too. Ryan Clady, who spent most of last season on crutches or sitting next to Denver Post sportswriters in the press box, is back where he belongs at left tackle. Baller Montee Ball is in the backfield with Hillman, who won't be fumbling, and Emmanuel Sanders and Cody Latimer have joined the league's No. 1 air corps.

You like the Ware-and-Tear Sackmasters — DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller? Aqib Talib and T.J. Ward? Pot Roast and Potatoes?

Let's look at Indianapolis, shall we? Without Mathis, the Colts' defense won't be frisky. The most sacks among the other starters was 5½ in 2013. The Colts need more than a horseshoe for luck against Manning.

Speaking of Luck, Prince Andrew will have some protection problems. "The Colts' offensive line is officially a mess," ESPN.com summarized in a headline this weekend. Two guards and the starting center are injured, and in the final exhibition, a defensive end played offensive tackle. In the first two seasons, Luck has taken exactly 200 QB hits. Hello, Von.

Reggie Wayne, the Colts' premier receiver, is 35 and recovering from a torn ACL. He barely played in the exhibitions.

By the way, the Colts lost all four, which doesn't matter, except no Super Bowl champion ever lost all four.

The Colts toyed down the stretch with the no-huddle offense, originally made famous in Indianapolis by pizza pitchman Peyton. Indy and Luck have brought it back this season. According to Luck, "I think it's great when the time calls and the situation calls, it puts pressure on the defense. Obviously, it makes us tired, but, hopefully, it makes (the defense) tire as well, or more tired."

Only problem is, the Broncos' defense trains every day against the pre-eminent no-huddle offense in football. The "it makes us tired" principle certainly will come into play at a mile high. Plus, the renewed clamor in the din of inequity here will discombobulate the Colts.

Oh, yes, the Broncos still are steaming from the ignominy of the Super Bowl.

Lockheed says object part of 'sensor technology' testing that ended ThursdayWhat the heck is that thing? It's fair to assume that question was on the minds of many people who traveled along Colo. 128 south of Boulder this week if they happened to catch a glimpse of what appeared to be a large, silver projectile perched alongside the highway and pointed north toward town.